Jesus saw mealtime as a time of inclusion and fellowship. The Pharisees saw meal time as a self-propagating and self-aggrandizing time. What Jesus is emphasizing here is that God does the blessing. God does the praising. God gives the glory. The challenge of today's Gospel is the challenge of trying to free ourselves from our culture's pull to power and esteem. God doesn't care about the glitter of our guest list. If this Gospel is to be believed then God looks to see that we have practiced the generosity and inclusiveness and love of the kingdom in our daily social relationships. The Gospel, in very stark terms is setting social recognition up against recognition of God's favor. The Gospel is challenging us to look at what we do, how we act and our reasons behind those actions.

On this holiday weekend, at a time that is meant to honor those who labor, we need to think about, to remember those not at our table. Remember them in prayer, remember them by our actions and support, remember them by how we vote, and remember to give generously and without expectation of a return favor. All of this is a very tall order for us. But who ever said Labor Day was supposed to be easy? Whoever said it should be only another day off from work? That same uneasy childhood feeling of dread that I still experience on Labor Day, which stems from knowing something is ending and something new is beginning, can and should lead me and all of us to remember God does bless us, God does praise us, God does give us glory. Those people in our leaflet and the simple actions we can undertake to assist them are reflections of that praise, blessing and glory... That's a good new beginning. Happy Labor Day.